For The Haberdasher, Mobile's entertainment district 'like a slap in the face'

"It's not fair for all we've done, but life's not fair." - Elise Poche, co-owner of The Haberdasher

MOBILE, Alabama – For the owners of The Haberdasher, today's
decision by the Mobile City Council to exclude them from the two entertainment
districts felt "like a slap in the face."

"I think it's highly unfair," said Elise Poche, co-owner of
the business with her boyfriend, Naude Gouws. "It's very emotional. We spent a
year of blood, sweat and tears and hard manual labor (to get the establishment
operating)."

Poche, before the council's vote, pleaded with officials to
postpone voting on the districts until the proposal was fairer.

She echoed that position following the meeting.

"We don't see the rush," Poche said. "If there are all these
problems with it, let's address the problems and then move on."

Officials have said that some of the nearby residents,
including the Archdiocese of Mobile, wanted to be left out of the districts.
The Downtown Mobile Alliance agreed, saying the three blocks are more
structured for non-entertainment businesses and residential housing.

Councilman William Carroll, who represents downtown, said it
wasn't the council that excluded The Haberdasher or the Music Box. Rather, he
said the maps were drawn by constituents during two meetings held by the
alliance, and that the final map considered some of the concerns from nearby
residents.

But Council President Reggie Copeland, who abstained from
voting, said his concern about the district is that it excluded establishments
that wanted to be included.

The only resident who spoke during today's council meeting
wishing to be left out of the district's boundaries was Irvin Grodsky, who has
battled with the Music Box over noise.

Grodsky has previously said his opposition isn't related
directly to his past problems with the Music Box. In March 2011, Grodsky, sued
David Mathews, owner of the Music Box, in an effort to shut down the
Dauphin Street bar for being too loud. Two weeks later, a block smashed
through Grodksy's office window.

"The problem I have is with the (phrase) 'entertainment
district,'" Grodsky told the council. "It will allow people in these properties
to use them for any purpose whatsoever even to the detriment of property
owners."

Poshe said she believes The Haberdasher was the victim of a "personal
vendetta" neighbors have with the Music Box.

She said Haberdasher's Facebook page has been inundated with
supporters and that she's gotten emails and text messages supporting the
establishment's inclusion into the district.